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see Amy in the deep； terrifying water； struggling to stay afloat。 Without a second's hesitation； Tracy jumped in after her。 And as she hit the water； Tracy thought； Oh； my God！ I can't swim。。。。
BOOK TWO
Chapter 12
New Orleans
FRIDAY； AUGUST 25… lO：OO A。M。
Lester Torrance； a teller at the First Merchants Bank of New Orleans； prided himself on two things： his sexual prowess with the ladies and his ability to size up his customers。 Lester was in his late forties； a lanky； sallow…faced man with a Tom Selleck mustache and long sideburns。 He had been passed over for promotion twice； and in retaliation； Lester used the bank as a personal dating service。 He could spot hookers a mile away； and he enjoyed trying to persuade them to give him their favors for nothing。 Lonely widows were an especially easy prey。 They came in all shapes； ages； and states of desperation； and sooner or later they would appear in front of Lester's cage。 If they were temporarily overdrawn； Lester would lend a sympathetic ear and delay bouncing their checks。 In return； perhaps they could have a quiet little dinner together？ Many of his female customers sought his help and confided delicious secrets to him： They needed a loan without their husbands' knowledge 。。。。 They wanted to keep confidential certain checks they had written。。。。 They were contemplating a divorce； and could Lester help them close out their joint account right away？ Lester was only too eager to please。 And to be pleased。
On this particular Friday morning； Lester knew he had hit the jackpot。 He saw the woman the moment she walked in the door of the bank。 She was an absolute stunner。 She had sleek black hair falling to her shoulders； and she wore a tight skirt And sweater that outlined a figure a Las Vegas chorine would have envied。
There were four other tellers in the bank； and the young woman's eyes went from one cage to the other； as though seeking help。 When she glanced at Lester； he nodded eagerly and gave her an encouraging smile。 She walked over to his cage； just as Lester had known she would。
〃Good morning；〃 Lester said warmly。 〃What may I do for you？〃 He could see her nipples pushing against her cashmere sweater； and he thought； Baby； what I'd like to do for you！
〃I'm afraid I have a problem；〃 the woman said softly。 She had the most delightful southern accent Lester had ever heard。
〃That's what I'm here for；〃 he said heartily； 〃to solve problems。〃
〃Oh； I do hope so。 I'm afraid I've done somethin' just terrible。〃
Lester gave her his best paternal； you…can…lean…on…me smile。 〃I can't believe a lovely lady like you could do anything terrible。〃
〃Oh； but I have。〃 Her soft brown eyes were wide with panic。 〃I'm Joseph Romano's secretary； and he told me to order new blank checks for his checking account a week ago； and I simply forgot all about it； and now we've just about run out； and when he finds out； I don't know what he'll do to me。〃 It came out in a soft； velvety rush。
Lester was only too familiar with the name of Joseph Romano。 He was a prized customer of the bank's； even though he kept relatively small amounts in his account。 Everyone knew that his real money was laundered elsewhere。
He sure has great taste in secretaries； Lester thought。 He smiled again。 〃Well； now； that's not too serious； Mrs。…？〃
〃Miss。 Hartford。 Lureen Hartford。〃
Miss。 This was his lucky day。 Lester sensed that this was going to work out splendidly。 〃I'll just order those new checks for you right now。 You should have them in two or three weeks and…〃
She gave a little moan； a sound that seemed to Lester to hold infinite promise。 〃Oh； that's too late； and Mr。 Romano's already so upset with me。 I just can't seem to keep my mind on my work； you know？〃 She leaned forward so that her breasts were touching the front of the cage。 She said breathlessly； 〃If you could just rush those checks out； I'd be happy to pay extra。〃
Lester said ruefully； 〃Gee； I'm sorry； Lureen； it would be impossible to…〃 He saw that she was near to tears。
〃To tell you the truth； this might cost me my job。 Please。。。 I'll do anything。〃
The words fell like music on Lester's ears。
〃I'll tell you what I'll do；〃 Lester declared。 〃I'll phone in a special rush on them； and you'll have them Monday。 How's that？〃
〃Oh； you're just wonderful！〃 Her voice was filled with gratitude。
〃I'll send them to the office and…〃
〃It would be better if I picked them up myself。 I don't want Mr。 Romano to know how stupid I was。〃
Lester smiled indulgently。 〃Not stupid； Lureen。 We all get a little forgetful sometimes。〃
She said softly； 〃I'll never forget you。 See you Monday。〃
〃I'll be here。〃 It would take a broken back to keep him home。
She gave him a dazzling smile and walked slowly out of the bank； and her walk was a sight to behold。 Lester was grinning as he went over to a file cabinet； got the number of Joseph Romano's account； and phoned in a rush order for the new checks。
**********
The hotel on Carmen Street was indistinguishable from a hundred other hotels in New Orleans； which was why Tracy had chosen it。 She had been in the small； cheaply furnished room for a week。 pared to her cell； it was a palace。
When Tracy returned from her encounter with Lester； she took off the black wig； ran her fingers through her own luxuriant hair； removed the soft contact lenses； and creamed off her dark makeup。 She sat down on the single straight chair in the room and breathed deeply。 It was going well。 It had been easy to learn where Joe Romano kept his bank account。 Tracy had looked up the canceled check from her mother's estate； issued by Romano。 〃Joe Romano？ You can't touch him；〃 Ernestine had said。
Ernestine was wrong and Joe Romano was just the first。 The others would follow。 Every one of them。
She closed her eyes and relived the miracle that had brought her there。。。。
**********
She felt the cold； dark waters closing over her head。 She was drowning； and she was filled with terror。 She dived down； and her hands found the child and grabbed her and pulled her to the surface。 Amy struggled in blind panic to break free； dragging them both under again； her arms and legs flailing wildly。 Tracy's lungs were bursting。 She fought her way out of the watery grave； hanging on to the little girl in a death grip； and she felt her strength ebbing。 We're not going to make it； she thought。 We're dying。 Voices were calling out； and she felt Amy's body torn from her arms and she screamed； 〃Oh； God； no！〃 Strong hands were around Tracy's waist and a voice said； 〃Everything's fine now。 Take it easy。 It's over。〃
Tracy looked around frantically for Amy and saw that she was safe in a man's arms。 Moments later they were both hauled up from the deep； cruel water。。。。
The incident would have been worth no more than a paragraph on the inside page of the morning newspapers； except for the fact that a prisoner who could not swim had risked her life to save the child of the warden。 Overnight the newspapers and television mentators turned Tracy into a her